Satoru Iwata has big plans for Nintendo Company Limited in 2013. Iwata, who architectured the big restructure of 2002 where he dissolved the legendary Nintendo R&D1 and Nintendo R&D2 to strengthen Nintendo EAD and also create Nintendo SPD. Iwata has long admitted several deficits in the company he wanted to address, including expanding the network team of Nintendo, and initiating another huge rehaul of the software development division.

By December 2012, Iwata hopes to put place a new mysterious restructure of R&D which revolves around a new Kyoto R&D building hoping to exlusively house over 1200 developers. Previously, Nintendo has its R&D split between its main Central Building and its old Kyoto Research Institute Building. It is very unclear how the third R&D building will change the dynamic in Kyoto, but Iwata has mentioned wanting to support expansion as well as efficiency.

Additionally, Nintendo has continued to expand R&D operations in its Tokyo sector. Tokyo being the largest city of Japan by far, has created a window where several veteran developers from Square, SEGA, Koei, Epoch, and Konami can easily transition to join the EAD Tokyo development section.

But alongside all the expansion in Kyoto and Tokyo, comes the biggest news that Shigeru Miyamoto is expected to leave the EAD Division most likely by December 2012. Miyamoto has expressed concern that his presence is over shining all the new producers and directors creating content in the EAD Division (the largest of two gaming divisions at Nintendo). Miyamoto has vocalized his intent of stepping aside as General Manager of EAD to perhaps to create a third development sector where he would work with younger developers and focus on smaller resource, and faster to develop games.

Miyamoto has vocalized his intent of stepping aside as General Manager of EAD to perhaps to create a third development sector where he would work with younger developer and focus on smaller resource, and faster to develop games.

They make it sound as though they're going to develop for smartphones.

Three R&D buildings sounds like they're serious. Anyone know how many the other companies have? Sony and Microsoft ones specifically tailored for consoles.

That's three R&D buildings iin Kyoto. Central Building, Kyoto Research Institute, and new Building. Then there is also the Tokyo Building. Then there is also several manufacturing plants, one which, Sapporo, was once rumored to be a new EAD branch before it just became the second Nd Cube office.

Sounds like Nintendo is going to make some necessary changes and take a more aggressive approach in certain regards when it comes to future software and hardware development. Interesting to see what comes of all this.

These are all excellent things to do leading up to a new hardware generation. Might have been nice to see this starting up pre-Wii U, but this might be the first time their internal schedule could accommodate the restructure.

Here's hoping the next new retail IP is better than Steel Diver lol. If you actually look at what each studio is working on, after next month, the only games in development from Nintendo are Wii Fit U and Pikmin 3 meaning that we are probably going to get a lot of new games announced next year, and thats not even factoring in their other studios. 2013 might just be a really good year for gaming.

Definitely looking forward to hearing new information about this big shakeup. Naturally I imagine investors are going to get nervous that Miyamoto plans to step down from his Godlike role in the company. I imagine he is looking to create something fresh and new rather than just tell other people how to not screw up sequels to games he created (/Not allow them to innovate).

The news that excites me the most is Miyamoto finally getting back to directing games instead of being a manager.
A man of Miyamotos caliber working with a new generation of designers on smaller games without all the baggage is amazing news, and must be a dream come true for both Miyamoto and the designers who were working under him before.

That's awesome news. Nintendo's preparing to flex its 1st party muscle for a new generation! I respect Miyamoto's decision to step down from his current position as to not overshadow or potentially stunt the growth of other developers. Given Miyamoto's celebrity status within the the walls of Nintendo and in the industry, it's good to see that he has kept his ego in check. You're not off the hook, Miyamoto! You still need to stay relevant in the next-generation and wow us with some future projects regardless of whether they are big or small.